(but were afraid to ask)
by
Alex W. Tong Ph.D.
- What is Karate?
- "Karate-do," the "way of the empty hand," is a Japanese martial art
based on unarmed punching and kicking self-defense techniques.
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- How does Japanese karate differ from other martial arts,
such as Taekwondo or American free-style karate?
- Different martial arts emphasize different aspects
of physical and mental development. For example,
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that emphasizes kicking.
American free-style karate classes
are generally geared towards tournament free-sparring.
Japanese karate weighs hand and foot techniques equally and
involves training in basics and kata (forms) as well as free-sparing.
These are nevertheless only general guidelines.
With the exception of some traditional karate schools with stringent curriculum
(such as JKA/Shotokan schools), the decision to concentrate on (or de-emphasize)
various aspects of training is at the discretion of the individual instructor.
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- What is "kata," and why do I need to train it/them?
- Kata, or "form," is an essential part of the traditional karate training.
Physically it resembles a compulsory gymnastic floor exercise routine.
Traditionally, it is hands-on means of transmitting knowledge
(karate techniques and principles) from generation to generation.
The performance of kata is an excellent way of developing
the mental concentration required when executing karate techniques.
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- How do I know what martial arts style or school is right for me?
- Unlike what the public commonly believes,
there is no secret death-blow technique in any martial arts style.
Regardless of style or school, a period of familiarization is necessary
(1 month or longer) before one begins to enjoy training.
Ask if you could watch a couple of sessions or
participate in one or two classes with no obligations.
Establish whether classes are informative and organized.
Note whether the overall emphasis and training methods
of the class are consistent with your expectations.
Talk to senior students to get a feel of the club’s training philosophy.
Be wary of schools that do not allow spectators and demand long-term contracts.
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- Are there violent and nonviolent martial arts?
What are the differences?
- The American public often confuses violence with physical contact.
Violence is defined as the exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse.
In one form or another, martial arts, when executed in a self-defense situation,
will produce physical injury, whether the technique is a punch, kick, sweep, or throw.
Nevertheless, the philosophy of traditional martial arts is that these actions
are intended for self-preservation only,
and are not to be carried out as acts of aggression.
The goal of martial arts training involves extensive physical contact
of willing participants.
"Violent" or "non-violent" martial arts are just unfounded claims of advertisement.
One should base his/her choice on more tangible factors
when deciding on a martial arts school:
the quality of instruction, the form of physical activity,
the training philosophy of the club, etc.
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- Would I get better training from a 8th degree black belt
as opposed to a 2nd degree black belt?
- There are nine degrees of black belt (dan) levels with ascending order of seniority.
Within the same school, a higher rank implies improved proficiency and experience.
Unfortunately, other than a handful of well established styles,
there are no uniform standards for granting black belt ratings.
Any unscrupulous individual can start a karate school
and award him/herself a 7th or 8th degree ranking.
When you visit a particular school, ask about the instructor’s training experience
and ranking affiliation.
Use your judgment to decide whether he/she
is a technically competent martial artist and teacher.
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- Won’t I get more for my money
if I join a school that teaches Karate + Judo + Taekwondo + Hapkido?
- Each individual martial arts has its own unique approach to self-defense
evolved over centuries and generally requires its instructors years to master
(five years or more).
It is as rare to meet an instructor who teaches a variety of martial arts well,
as it is to finding a good tennis pro who also teaches racquetball and squash and badminton.
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- What is that "yell" that we often hear in karate exercise?
- The kiai (pronounced "key-eye") is a means of focusing mental and physical power
by breath compression at the split second of technique delivery.
The same principle is applied in other sports to a lesser degree,
such as in the "grunts" we hear in tennis, weight lifting, football, etc.
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- Why do karate people break boards/bricks etc.,
and am I required to do this?
- Board-breaking is one of many ways of testing the power
produced in karate punching or kicking techniques,
not unlike bag punching in boxing or tackling practice in football.
How often these exercises are practiced is at the discretion of the individual instructor.
Students of JKA Dallas will learn about the benefits and pitfalls of breaking techniques
and are encouraged to practice these training exercises correctly on their own time.
Breaking exercises are not a compulsory requirement
in class or during rank examinations for the JKS/Shotokan curriculum.
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- What are the benefits of traditional karate training?
- Traditional karate training provides excellent physical conditioning
for all major muscle groups of the body.
Karate enhances hand-eye coordination and improves reflexes.
The coordinated concentration of mental and physical power as practiced during karate
is beneficial for handling stress in everyday situations.
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- Do I need to be well coordinated
and in excellent physical shape to enter the karate class?
- Students with no prior training experience will receive personalized instruction
in JKA Dallas-sanctioned schools for the first month of classes.
Thereafter, they will participate in classes
geared towards the beginner and intermediate level.
The emphasis of basics in traditional karate schools, such as JKA/Shotokan schools,
allow beginners as well as experienced individuals to train together and progress
at their own level of fitness and technical expertise.
Each individual’s goal is the same: to develop and execute any given technique
to the best of his/her physical and mental capability.
A person who is not "in shape" will simply progress at a more moderate pace
than a well-coordinated or physically fit individual.
For students who are not "in good shape," traditional karate training
in a well-supervised class is excellent for getting into shape
without undue demand on the body.
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- What is the Japan Karate Association (JKA)/Shotokan style of karate?
- The JKA/Shotokan style of karate training exemplifies traditional karate
and is well known for the emphasis of development o powerful and dynamic karate techniques
through training of basics, form (kata), and sparring.
JKA/Shotokan style karate is the most popular Japanese style
with over 3 million practitioners worldwide.
The JKA karate style boasts the largest number
of All-Japan and international traditional karate tournament champions.
Mr. Ginchin Funakoshi, the first chief instructor of JKA/Shotokan karate,
introduced karate-do to Japan in the early 1900s.
All certified coaches of JKS/Shotokan schools undergo an instructor training course
and are required to pass a stringent qualification examination.
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- What is expected of me if I join the JKA/Shotokan club?
- To derive the most out of karate training,
the student is expected to attend classes on a regular basis.
As in other athletic endeavors, the student should put forth
his/her maximum effort physically and mentally.
As a student of a martial art with a long standing tradition,
one is expected to respect and be receptive to the instructor,
and act in accordance to proper etiquette while in the dojo (training campus).
Show your support to your club/school by paying your dues/fees on a timely basis.
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- I don’t have any prior experience in contact sports.
Will I get beat up in class?
- When visiting a karate school, be aware of the amount of control
that an instructor exercises over his class.
Stay away from a school where there is a "free-for-all" attitude.
In properly run traditional karate schools such as JKA/Shotokan dojos,
physical control of techniques is a prerequisite
before a person is allowed to do sparring exercises.
Although there are occasions that beginners are paired up with advanced students,
physical contact is controlled with extremely low probability of injury.
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- What are the different ranks in karate,
and how long does it usually take to be a black belt?
- At present, there are no uniform standards in ranking
between the different styles of martial arts.
As the common saying goes, the quickest way to get a black belt
is to go to the store and buy one.
One way of ensuring that the rank you receive reflects your level of achievement
(and not just the tuition you’ve paid in) is to join a karate school
that is affiliated with a teaching style or system
with a proven history of awarding ranks.
In the JKA/Shotokan style, there are nine belt levels
(9th to 1st "kyu," in descending order) before one receives a black belt,
followed by progression through another 9 degrees of black belt, as discussed above.
A student with no prior training enters as 9th kyu,
and is eligible to take ranking examinations at intervals of 3-4 months of training.
Therefore a student is required to pass 9 examinations to attain black belt,
this would require close to three years of diligent training.
There is a uniform curriculum and stringent examination standards
for all JKA karate schools.
Each student’s rank is registered with a national governing body
and is recognized internationally.
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- How do I advance in Rank?
- For students in JKA/Shotokan schools, ranking examinations are given
after approximately 3 months of regular training.
The ranking examination to be performed by the student in front of the examination board
is comprised of three parts: kata (form), basic technique demonstration,
and basic sparring demonstration.
All materials required for examination will have been covered in detail
in routine training.
Upon passing the rank examination,
the student progresses to the next level of training
and is eligible for the next ranking examination in 3 months.
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- What does it mean to be a black belt?
- A black belt is not quite the superman or superwoman that the public perceives,
particularly in view of the lack of uniform standards from style to style.
For students who train in traditional martial arts schools such as JKA/Shotokan schools,
passing the first level of black belt (or shodan) examination
is a distinguished achievement that reflects years of dedication and hard training.
Technically, a first degree black belt in JKA/Shotokan schools
would have achieved instructor status by demonstrating
that he/she has mastery of basic karate techniques,
and is now entering a second stage of training in developing technical expertise
according to his/her physical and mental potential.
Thereafter expertise is reflected by the level of black belt (dan)
the individual attains, as described above.
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- Will what I learn in class have a direct self-defense application?
- Traditional karate training allows a person to handle emergencies
to the best of his/her mental and physical capabilities.
It also allows a person to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations.
One should understand, however, that karate training is different
from street fighting, where unpredictable elements
(weapons, number of assailants, familiarity of environment)
are almost always in the aggressor’s favor.
No matter how well a karate student masters his/her techniques,
the rule of thumb always is to attempt to defuse danger
and avoid direct confrontation unless one’s life is threatened
and other alternatives are not available.
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- Would I get more self-defense training
if I choose a full-contact karate schools?
- If self-defense or prize fighting is the primary reason for taking karate,
then the student should consider more combat-oriented classes
such as kick-boxing or survivalist camps that cover modern weaponry applications,
the most effective way of self-defense.
Full-contact instruction can give you first hand experience on hitting and being hit,
yet contact is only a small part of developing good techniques
(as anyone who received ineffective rabbit punches can attest to).
Undoubtedly the beginning student would get hit before he/she learns to hit back.
Fear (from injury) and anger (an urge to "get back at the other person")
are hardly the ideal learning motivations for everyone.
The goal of traditional karate training is to provide guidance
for developing the student’s "tools" in the form of solid and powerful techniques
and the correct self-defense mental frame of mind.
Sparring matches in traditional karate schools, although controlled,
nevertheless require contestants to execute punching and kicking techniques
in full power and speed.
The reason that these techniques stop short of the target
is not so much a matter of philosophy
but a more realistic approach to minimize injury,
thereby maximizing the learning curve of the individual.
After the student’s "tools" (karate techniques) are refined,
he/she may elect to test technique effectiveness on their own time
by bag (or makiwara) punching, breaking techniques, or sparring matches
at whatever degree of contact both parties agree to.
If one is inclined towards sparring-oriented training,
ask for an opportunity to watch a sparring match between senior students
during your visit to a martial arts school,
and determine for yourself if their capabilities are as you expect.
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